Pharmacology Department, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2010 Jan-Feb;32(1):62-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ntt.2008.11.005. Epub 2008 Dec 7.
Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode that has been used as a valuable research tool in many facets of biological research. Researchers have used the many tools available to investigate this well-studied nematode, including a cell lineage map, sequenced genome, and complete wiring diagram of the nervous system, making in-depth investigation of the nervous system practical. These tools, along with other advantages, such as its small size, short life cycle, transparency, and ability to generate many progeny, have made C. elegans an attractive model for many studies, including those investigating toxicological paradigms and those using high throughput techniques. Researchers have investigated a number of endpoints, such as behavior and protein expression using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker following toxicant exposure and have explored the mechanisms of toxicity using techniques such as microarray, RNA interference (RNAi), and mutagenesis. This review discusses the benefits of using C. elegans as a model system and gives examples of the uses of C. elegans in toxicological research. High throughput techniques are discussed highlighting the advantages of using an in vivo system that has many advantageous characteristics of an in vitro system while emphasizing endpoints relating to developmental and adult neurotoxicity.
秀丽隐杆线虫是一种线虫，已被广泛应用于生物研究的多个领域，成为一种有价值的研究工具。研究人员利用多种工具来研究这种研究透彻的线虫，包括细胞谱系图谱、测序基因组和完整的神经系统布线图，使深入研究神经系统成为可能。这些工具，以及其他优点，如体型小、生命周期短、透明和能够产生大量后代，使秀丽隐杆线虫成为许多研究的理想模型，包括那些研究毒理学范例和使用高通量技术的研究。研究人员使用绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP) 标记物研究了许多终点，例如在接触毒物后的行为和蛋白质表达，并使用微阵列、RNA 干扰 (RNAi) 和诱变等技术探索了毒性机制。本文讨论了将秀丽隐杆线虫作为模型系统的优势，并举例说明了秀丽隐杆线虫在毒理学研究中的应用。讨论了高通量技术，突出了使用具有许多体外系统优势特征的体内系统的优势，同时强调了与发育和成年神经毒性相关的终点。
